Entering Class Proves Highly Selective The Law School this year saw the largest number of applications in its history- 2,431 - exceeding by a substantial margin the previous high -2, 108- recorded in 1991. Over the last five years, the number of applicants has increased 95 percent.

Faced with th is applications boom, the Law School accepted just 23 percent of those who applied , making the entering class one of the most selective ever. Michelle L. Rahman , director oflaw admissions, said the class has "the highest credentials in our history" in terms of grade point average and LSAT scores. It also is the most diverse in terms of geography and ethnicity. "I think we' re in for a banner year," she said.

YEAR APPLIED ACCEPTED CLASS SIZE

1999 1,246 44%

2000 1,450 37%

2001 1,545 37%

2002 1,864 31%

2003 2,431 23%

Students come from 28 states, three foreign countries (China , India and Korea) and 76 U.S. universities.

The median LSAT score is 160, up from 158 last year, 157 in 2001 , 158 in 2000 and 157 in 1999.

The median GPA is 3.36, up from 3.30 last year, 3.21 in 2001 , 3.12 in 2000 and 3.18 in 1999.

The class includes 72 students from Virginia . Other states sending the most students to the Law School are Texas (11), North Carolina (9) , New York (8) and Pennsylvania (7) .

(Some numbef5 may have changed slightly since the school year began.)

156

161

171

178

164

• MALE/FEMALE

38/62% 54/46%

39/61% 52/48%

44/56% 53/47%

43/57% 50/50%

55/45% 57/43%

The magazine of the

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

SCHOOL OF LAW

EDITOR Rob Walker

ART DTREC!lON AND DESIGN Design Manifesto EDITORIAL OFFICE Maryland Hall, University of Richmond, VA 23173 E-MAIL rwalker@riclunond.edu TELEPHONE (804) 287-6317 FAX (804) 287-6491 IA W Al.UMN! AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Anne DuBois Jacobson,

Director of Advancement Angela K. Schettine

Associate Director, Development and Alumni Programs

Mary Grace Greer, Coordinator, Development and Alumni Programs

E-MAIL LawAlumni@richmond.edu TELEPHONE (804) 289-8028 FAX (804) 289-8985 WORLD WIDE WEB http://law.richmond.edu/

©2003, UniversityofRichmond Schooloflaw. 7bisbookmay not be reproduced in whole or in part without express pennission from the law school develop­ment and alumni office.

Richmond law, of which this is Volume 16, Number 2, is pul>­lisbed biannually for the alumni and friends of the University of Richmond School of Law, Uni­versity of Richmond, VA23173.

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS School of Arts and Sciences

Robins School of Business

School of

A

B

Continuing Studies C Graduate School of Arts and Sciences G

111e Richard S. Reynolds Graduate School of the Robins School of Business GB

Honorary degree H

Jepson School of Leadership Studies J University of Richmond School of Law L

Rkhmond College R

Westhampton College W Cover photo by Doug Buerlein

CONTENTS Fa/1 2003

FEATURES

6

10

14

Summer school

Law students work and learn in the public interest

By Rob Walker

Married to the law

Husband and wife lawyers seek to balance the scales

By Anne Buckley

Rod Smolla

A letter from the Law School's new dean Teacher, author, scholar, litigator , Smolla raises the bar

By Karl Rhodes

DEPARTMENTS

2 For the Record News and events in the law school

21 Faculty Briefs News and achievements of faculty

22 Nota Bene Alumni recognition and alumni events

24 Class Actions Class news and alumni profiles

FOR THE RECORD

Schlesinger calls on graduates to balance public, private rights

Federal Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger, L'65, told the 157 members of the 2003 graduat­ing class of the University of Richmond School of Law that their responsibility is "to preserve and pass on our heritage of libe1ty and free­dom."

Quoting legendary jurist Learned Hand, Schlesinger told the "soon-to-be" lawyers, "Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women. When it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it. No constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it. "

The country is undergoing many changes, Schlesinger said in his May commence­ment address, the chief of which is trying to find a "balance between public and private rights" in the wake of the "unprecedented attacks" of

2 RI CHMOND LAW

Sept. 11. He warned about increasing assaults on Ameri­cans' liberties that "start as a trickling stream but could soon become a torrent."

"No American need ever be ashamed of this country," Schlesinger said. "For over two centuries, we have practiced a representative government based on the divine right of the individual" and the "greatest good for the greatest number."

Americans enjoy greater personal freedom than in any other system, he said, and the graduates "will be caretakers" of that system.

Schlesinger is a recipient of the law school's William Green Award for Professional Excellence. He is judge of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida.

Speaking for the faculty, Rodney A. Smolla told the

graduates that Chief Justice John Marshall came to him in a dream the night before and impa1ted two words of advice: family and justice. Smolla, then the George E. Allen Professor of Law, became dean of the law school]uly 1.

"One of the hardest things in life," Smolla said, "is to balance the needs of one's family with the demands of professional life.

"If you lose friendship and companionship and love, you lose the meaning of life" Smolla said. "If you let your job take over, you may conquer the universe but lose your soul.

"I believe [lawyers] will always be keepers of our great tradition of justice," Smolla said, "a condition that marks the progress of the human race.

"All of the issues that decide our character and our place in the world , lawyers are part of," Smolla told the class, but "the law must evolve as you must evolve."

Student speaker John N. McPadden jokingly told his classmates, "If the accounting scandal keeps up, lawyers will no longer be the most hated people in America ."

Lawyers do serve a useful function , however, he said, "Without lawyers , McDonald's might have the temerity to serve hot coffee."

On a serious note, he said he had "never met a better group of people" than he had at the law school.

By Randy Fitzgerald, R'63

'

FOR T HE RECO RD

Awards at Commencement

ABA/BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS INC. AWARD FOR EX· CELLENCE

Heather King Hays Emily Domalski Kinzie Lisa Marie Medina

CUDLIPP MEDAL Emily Domalski Kinzie

FAMILY LAW AWARD Georgia Smith Hamilton

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF TRIAL LAWYERS STUDENT AD· VOCACY AWARD

Jacqueline McClenney-Neal

NINA KESTIN SERVICE AWARD Lauren Jeanne Brown

LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Michael Austin Culpepper

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN LAWYERS AWARD

Heather King Hays

CHARLES T. NORMAN AWARD Lauren Jeanne Brown

ORRELL-BROWN AWARD FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

Michele Kathleen Burke Devon Williams Cushman

PRO BONO AWARDS Jaime Hibbard Blackmon Kathryn Jane Cook Debi Michelle Dorfsman Tara Ann Manson C. Hailey Vaughn Robertson Lisa Marie Sommermeyer

VIRGINIA TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION ADVOCACY AWARD

Darcey K. Donahey

ORDER OF THE BARRISTERS Suzanne 0 . Cress Devon Williams Cushman Darcey K. Donahey Carl Eldred Jennifer Noelle Hicks Charles Jerry Homiller Emily Domalski Kinzie Tara Ann Manson Jacqueline McClenney-Neal Amanda Gail McDonald

1 John C. Ivins Jr., Law School Association president; John R. Pagan, former dean; June R. Aprille, provost; William E. Cooper, University president Kathryn Cook

John D. McPhaul II Student processional

Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger, L'65 6 Professor Jonathan K. Stubbs left) and Earl H.

McClenney Jr., L'80 7 Michael Freeman (left) and former Professor

Michael Allan Wolf

Fa/12003

,. ••• peor~lo who cannot represent themselves need

good legal help."

r LaW students work and \earn

. \n the pub\\c ~ '· \ nterest By Rob Walker

Eight Richmond law students spent last summer earning a

few dollars, plenty of hands-on experience and heaps of praise

by working at agencies that practice law in the public interest.

T he eight were selected from 42 applicants for

$1 ,200-$2,700 fellowships provided by the

Virginia Law Foundation, the Public Interest Law

Association and Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity. Each

selection was based on an essay and on demonstrated

commitment to public interest work.

The fellowships enable students to put law school

theories into practice while sensitizing them to the importance of public service work, said Beverly Boone,

director of career services at the law school.

They also provide organizations that employ the

interns with skilled, enthusiastic workers they otherwise

would be unable to afford. The organizations serve

indigent clients, facilitate the administration of justice or

assist with government functions .

The Legal Information Network for Cancer (LINC) is

one employer that counts on the program. According to

Victoria Pearson, client services director, "Ours is a small

6 RJCHMOND LAW

office with a three-person staff and we greatly depend on

the interns' contributions."

Interns screen clients, assess issues and assist clients

by reviewing documents and contacting lawyers who

work with LINC, usually on a pro bono basis. They often

shadow the attorneys to lend a hand and to see the

process through.

"They are excellent with the clients," Pearson said. "We've found that they are not only eager to learn, but

they also bring great insight to the work. A lot of prob­

lem-solving goes on here and the interns are very

helpful, very involved in that. "

Rodney A. Smolla, law dean, hopes to see the

program grow.

"We need to dramatically increase the number of these

summer intern options for our students, both to provide

opportunities for our students and as a measure of our

commitment to the community. It will be a priority. "

John K. Karanian, Psy.D. On my third day at the Commonwealth of

Virginia 's Office of the Capital Defender, Central Region, three attorneys and I visited a client

charged with capital murder. The discussion

centered on the client's decision to accept a plea bargain for life in jail or opt for a trial, which could result in execution. Each attorney discussed the risks and benefits of the choices, and the client listened intently. I stood and listened and consid­ered the difficulty and gravity of such a decision.

The client then looked directly at me and asked, "What do you think?"

I chose the internship

because of the complexity of capital murder litiga­tion, my interest in

criminal law and the significant role mental health plays in the

mitigation pottion of capital trials. My interest in criminal and mental

health law developed

from my practice as a clinical and forensic

psychologist that included performing psychological evaluations for the U.S.

Bureau of Prisons, Central State Hospital 's maximum

security forensic unit and the CIA.

The client then

looked directly

at me and asked,

"What do you

think?"

Last sununer's work allowed me to apply the didactic training I received in the Capital Murder

Litigation course. I met with capital murder defendants, reviewed medical and psychological records and evaluations, and assisted in formulat­

ing mitigation. I briefed topics such as Batson challenges in voir dire and application of the "triggem1an rule." Because tl1e office is small, I

collaborated with each of the attorneys, the investigator, and mitigation specialist.

The fellowship I received allowed me to

explore the area of law in which I am interested and enabled me to develop an understanding of the complexities of capital murder defense. It

helped me prepare to answer the next capital defendant who asks, "What do you tlunk?"

SUMMER SCHOOL

Theresa Gryder I chose to intern with the Chesapeake Common­

wealth Attorney's office to gain experience in crinunal prosecution, which has been my primary area of interest from the moment I first considered

Watching and

working with

other attorneys

has been invalu-

able in hel ping

me assess and

pursuing a law career. Having completed a civil clinical placement with the

Richmond city attorney's office last semester, I wanted to see the criminal

side of government law to

compare it with civil practice.

A typical day started with court in the morning, followed by legal research

and writing in the afternoon. Most of the cases I handled were DUI's, bond hearings refine

trial and nusdemeanor appeals like traffic violations,

techniques damage to property, assault,

possession of marijuana. I tried a felony -malicious wounding.

Watching and working with other attorneys in

General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts has been invaluable in helping me assess and refine my own trial techniques, as

well as learn courtroom procedures. I wrote several appellate briefs and research memos for

other attorneys in the office. The most surprising aspect of the experience

was the range of legal issues that confront a prosecutor. I never thought I would see property

law again except on the bar exam, but I had to conduct research on topics such as whether chattels used in connection with realty are consid­

ered fixtures in a damage to property case. I also had to try to deternune whether a defense attorney is considered a public servant under the bribery

statutes and whether a bail bondsman is consid-ered an agent for the surety company that insures

his bonds. ancy Parr, L'83, chief deputy commonwealth's

attorney for the city of Chesapeake, offered the position to me. I am indebted to her and to Phi

Alpha Delta for the fellowship that enabled me to

accept it.

Fa/12003

SUMMER SCHOOL

8 RICHMOND LAW

Ryan D. Frei I accepted my internship with the Alexandria

public defender's office because of its reputation, the comprehensive range of practical legal skills I would be able to apply and for the opportunity to

use one of my college majors - Spanish. Several friends and professors had told me that a public defender's office, typically small and limited in

resources, would need my assistance and would

thrust me into legal contexts with a wide range of

responsibilities. The experience was

everything I expected.

On day one, I accompanied an attorney to the Alexandria

Detention Center to translate for Spanish-speaking clients. At one point, I was within 10 feet of the cell housing

Zacarias Moussaoui, the "20th hijacker."

During my second week, my attorney gave me transcripts

I felt as

though each

case was, in

a sense, my case.

from defense motions and trials and essentially told me to learn the facts, get a sense for appellate issues and draft a brief for submission to the Court

of Appeals of Virginia. I learned Virginia appellate procedure and formalities largely on my own,

crafting an original argument to question our client's convictions on felony charges.

Each week, I assisted my attorney in prepara­

tion for court proceedings, ranging from arraignments to post-trial sentencing hearings. By

participating in the numerous stages of the

criminal process, I gained valuable experience in litigation while learning evidentiary rules and criminal procedure.

The most rewarding aspect of my job was working with my attorney on one of her biggest trials. I visited our client in jail weekly, contacted

witnesses and interviewed them in Spanish, followed leads and tips, completed subpoena orders, helped draft motions and brainstormed

with my attorney to develop defense strategies. I felt as though each case was, in a sense, my case.

As a cash-strapped law student, I would not

have been able to experience substantive and

procedural law without the grant.

Stacie Cass When diagnosed with cancer, people are bom­

barded with previously unimaginable issues that reach beyond the medical. The Legal Information Network for Cancer (LINC) is a non-profit, commu­

nity-based organization that assists individuals with some of the legal concerns they face follow­ing diagnosis. Founded in 1996 by breast cancer

survivors Phyllis Katz, L'82, and Ann Hodges, a Richmond law professor, LINC strives to free cancer patients from their worries so they can focus on treatment.

Through an extensive network of attorneys and counselors, LINC helps patients navigate the

frustrating and frequently urgent legal issues that threaten to leave them without housing, medical

I was reminded how important it is that people who cannot represent themselves have

good legal help.

care or other

necessities. LINC, which

relies on about 70

referral lawyers, has helped over 1,600 central Virginians

understand health insurance issues, the Family Medical

Leave Act, custody matters, wills, powers of attorney

and advanced medical directives. It helps them locate

housing assistance and child-care.

As an intern with

LINC, I evaluated the issues facing ·

callers to determine whether they needed assistance from a referral attorney, a counselor or staff member. I learned a great deal about a wide range of legal issues,

including housing, employment, Social Security, Medicare/ Medicaid, bankruptcy, domestic and insurance law. I often took calls from individuals

who had been told they had only a few days or weeks to live.

The urgency of problems faced by LINC clients

taught me about the law and helped develop my

time management and issue prioritization skills.

I also was reminded how impo1tant it is that

people who cannot represent themselves have

good legal help.

Some of our clients felt alone and called seeking

more than legal advice. I frequently found myself

listening to people who had nowhere else to turn

to express their fears, concerns or hopes. Their

strength in the face of devastating odds remains an

inspiration to me. I am grateful for tl1e opportunity

to serve my community.

Lauren Brady I was first exposed to public interest law during

summer 2000, when I interned at Blue Ridge

Legal Services in Harrisonburg, Va. Working for

dedicated attorneys and

staff who had chosen to

devote their careers to

legal aid and public

service inspired me to

seek a career in public

service advocacy.

Interning at Blue Ridge

was stimulating and

rewarding.

Last summer I

continued to pursue my

interest by working as a

volunteer intern at t11e

Housing Litigation

Bureau of the 1ewYork

City Department of

Housing Preservation

and Development, the

largest municipal

housing agency in tl1e

nation. The depart­

ment's mission is to

improve the availability,

affordability and quality

of housing.

My internship allowed me to

take an active role

in providing legal assistance

to disadvantaged tenants who

find themselves with little bargaining

power.

I worked with bureau attorneys, assisting

tenants with actions against landlords who

violated the city housing maintenance code or the

New York multiple dwelling laws, and who

SUMMER SCHOOL

refused to make needed repairs at multiple

dwelling residences.

My internship allowed me to take an active role

in providing legal assistance to disadvantaged

tenants who find iliemselves with little bargaining

power. I spent two days a week working at the

Manhattan office, preparing for court and perforn1-

ing legal research. The remainder of my week was

spent attending housing court at the Bronx

courthouse.

I worked directly witl1 department attorneys,

participating in settlement negotiations and

obtaining court orders, communicating with

disgruntled tenants and interacting witl1 tl1e

landlords' counsel. Each day I gained valuable

practical experience by working for and witl1 t11e

public sector of one of tl1e largest and most effective

mayoral agencies in our nation's largest city.

This year's fellowship recipients were: Aaron Ahlquist, L'o4, Rochester, Minn .,

Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Richmond

Lauren E. Brady L'o5, Richmond ,

New York City Department of Housing Preservation

and Development

Stacie Ann Cass, L'o5, Midd lebury, Conn.,

Legal Information Network for Cancer, Richmond

Ryan D. Frei L'o5, Vienna, Va., Office of the Public Defender, Alexandria, Va.

Theresa J. Gryder L'o3, Midlothian, Va., Commonwealth's Attorney, Chesapeake, Va .

John K. Karanian, L'o4, Richmond,

Office of the Public Defender, Richmond

Karri B. Seaman, L'o4, Vesuvius, Va .,

Commonwealth's Attorney, Chesterfield County, Va .

Robert M. Worster Ill L'o5, Fredericksburg, Va., Office of Public the Defender, Fredericksburg, Va.

Fa/12003 9

Married to the

By Anne Buckley

The law school grind often acts

as a bonding agent, drawing

classmates together in an

atmosphere that is part shared

adventure and ambition and

part shared misery.

10 RJCHMOND LAW

Husband-and-wife lawyers seek to balance the scales

Many graduates of the partners never face can make

University of Richmond School of simple events like dinnertime

Law find those bonds tum into interesting, either because the

lasting professional alliances. Some occurrences of the day beg to be

prove even more personal - as hashed out or avoided to

husband and wife. preserve confidentiality.

When both spouses practice Greg and Jennifer Golden,

law, issues that purely professional like a number of married

Richmond law graduates, realize

there are a plethora of ethical

concerns that could arise. Some

lawyer couples work around

them by practicing together.

Others find professional niches

where conflicts rarely present

themselves.

Greg, L'96, is a corporate

attorney in Washington, D.C., for

a large Texas firm, Baker Botts.

He handles issues such as

mergers and acquisitions,

securities offerings and project

finance.

Jennifer, L'97, is a real estate

attorney for Hunseker, Lyon &

Leggett, in Vienna, Va. Because

they practice in distinctly differ­

ent fields, there is little chance

Greg and Jennifer will butt heads

professionally - which they both

appreciate.

The closest they ever came to a

conflict was when Jennifer

worked on Capitol Hill as counsel

for a congressman who sat on a

committee that had oversight of

energy issues - an area in which

Baker Botts is deeply involved.

"Some of our partners would

show up in her office and she

would have meetings with them,"

Greg said. That led to some quiet

evenings at home.

The potential for conflicts

between married lawyers is

considerable.

In Virginia, the Rules of

Professional Conduct specifically

address how married couples, or

people related in any fashion,

should handle potential conflicts.

Three years ago, Virginia's code

was changed to allow married

attorneys to represent clients on

both sides of an issue as long as the

client has been told of the situation

and has given consent. Prior to

2000, the code had been inter­

preted as saying that marriage

posed a non-waivable conflict of

interest, according to James

McCauley, ethics counsel of the

Virginia State Bar.

Even with the code change,

Richmond law professor Jonathan

K. Stubbs said married lawyers on

opposite sides of a case is not the

best idea.

MARRIED TO THE LAW

"You have to deal with the

appearance of professional

impropriety," Stubbs said. "Law­

yers have to be concerned that the

justice system not only works well

and is fair, but also that it appears

to the public to be fair.

"It's not going to appear fair if a

husband is on one side and the

wife on the other," he said. "It

doesn't pass the sniff test. "

In law school, Stubbs said,

professors teach students to err on

the side of showing standards that

are too high, rather than too low.

McCauley agreed with Stubbs.

"I'm not sure that the loosening

of this restriction was wise," he

said. "The lawyers and their

clients are in a situation in which

there has to be a high degree of

trust and confidence.

Fa /1 2003 11

MARRIED TO T HE LAW

"Any type of issue or set of Two lawyers in one marriage

circumstances that tends to cast also means both spouses under-

doubt or shadow on that trust is stand the stresses of couttrooms

probably not healthy for the and clients, and both can benefit

[lawyer-client] relationship," he from a trusted second perspective

said . "Even though the [new rule] on the legal landscape.

would permit lawyers to seek "You can talk about your

waivers from their clients, lawyers frustrations , or what's frustrating

need to think, and clients need to

think, very carefully about

whether that's in their best

interest. "

Some lawyers feel uneasy just

thinking about squaring off in

court. Some find sharing their

expertise and concerns with a

spouse who is a lawyer to be

helpful and comfortable.

Andrew Wood, L'67, and

Cheryl Wood, L'70, are partners in

the Richmond general practice

firm of Wood & Wood that deals

in a variety of civil and criminal

matters.

"It's great to have a built-in

second opinion," Cheryl said.

Their partnership does impose

some limits on them.

"If we had a divorce [case] and I

got the husband, she could not

represent the wife," Andrew

Wood said. "We're always on the

same side. That's why we practice

together. It's too complicated to

do otherwise."

12 R I CH~IO 'D LAW

about the other side, or strate­

gies," said Margaret Nelson, L'87,

a criminal defense lawyer in

Lynchburg. "What would you do

with a judge? What's that lawyer

like? That's what helps make it

such a positive thing when you 're

with someone who knows exactly

what your tensions and anxieties

are in a trial.

"We are both trial attorneys,"

she said, referring to herself and

her husband, William Phillips,

R'82, L'85. "It takes a lot of time to

prepare for a jury trial. It helps the

other one to know what the other

one is going through. "

"We'd avoid [representing

different interests in a case] at

virtually any cost," said Phillips.

"Even with the consent, it would

probably be too stressful."

For many lawyering couples, the inevitable

disagreements that arise in

discussions at home highlight

what ineffective adversaries they

would be.

"We'll have some pretty absurd

arguments," said Josh Rahman,

L'98, whose wife Megan, L'98,

practices at a different Richmond

firm. "They usually end in laugh­

ter, but in the heat of the moment

you try to use logic when you're

being completely illogical. I don't

think I've ever won an argument

with her."

Greg Golden said he hasn't

won one either, and his disagree­

ments with Jennifer sometimes

lapse into legalese, courtroom­

type objections and the works.

"And it's not nice to hear the

point you're making is irrelevant,"

he said.

Josh Rahman does business

transactional work for Durette

Bradshaw in Richmond, focusing

on commercial real estate. Megan

works for Troutman Sanders in

Richmond and focuses on com­

mercial and business litigation

and white-collar crime.

While their firms sometimes

oppose each other, the Rahmans

stay out of those cases. Work stays

at work, and home is a place

where outside life takes center

stage, with allowances for the late

days both sometimes put in.

"By the time we get home at

night, all we want to do is decom­

press," Josh said. "The nice thing

about having a spouse as a lawyer

is you don't have to explain your

day."

"I don't have an expectation

that she'll have a hot meal waiting

for me,'' he said. They eat at

Ukrop's a lot. "Whoever has the

time does what needs to be done."

Megan agreed.

"We understand that some­

times you just can't control your

schedule,'' she said. "It's not a 9 to

5 job by any means. "

Juggling schedules soon will

take on a new dimension for the

Rahmans, who are expecting their

first baby in August.

It was that kind of schedule

juggling that kept the Woods

practicing together.

"I decided when we had

children I needed to arrange my

practice around them,'' Cheryl

Wood said. "I never set an ap­

pointment I couldn't change to

M ARRJED TO THE LAW

accommodate the children's

schedules. I could only do that if

we practiced together. "

The arrangement sometimes

yielded days that looked more like

an episode of "Family Affair" than

"L.A. Law" at their Richmond firm,

which included a nursery space in

the early years.

"It's been an easy and good

way to raise a family," Andrew

Wood said. "When the kids were

born, she stopped work and then

just started back working as they

grew. She's always been at home

when they got out of school and

had dinner for them on the table."

Whether married lawyers

arrange their lives to suit their

careers, or vice versa, funny

moments surely arise.

Phillips recalled an instance at

the Lynchburg courthouse, where

most everyone knows he and

Nelson, who retained her maiden

name, are married.

"We had cases in the same

court one day and happened to be

sitting next to each other," Phillips

said. "My hair was sticking up,

and she took her hand and

smoothed it down. " One of the

deputies took note and let it be

known that "he was surprised Ms.

Nelson would do something like

that to Mr. Phillips" right there in

the courtroom.

Anne Buckley is a Richmond-based writer.

Fa/12003 13

DESIGNING A NEW FUTURE

An Open Letter to the Law School Community from

ROD SMOLLA

Our law school has a proud history of high

achievement in teaching, scholarship and service

to the legal profession and surrounding

community. In its 131-year history, the law

school has been home to many wonderful Speaking at commencement

teachers, scholars, administrators and staff, and its graduates have risen to places of high esteem

and leadership in the bar, the judiciary and civic life. We are now strategically poised to rise to new

levels of excellence in our educational mission, our scholarly accomplishment and our service to

society. All the ingredients for new levels of greatness are in place: a loyal and distinguished group

of alumni, an energetic and enthusiastic student body, an accomplished and ambitious faculty, a

dedicated staff, and a surrounding University that is intellectually vigorous, supportive of the law

school's mission and anxious to engage in partnerships in the pursuit of excellence.

The ingredients are indeed at hand. And now it's our job to stir them, mix them in creative

ways, and make exciting things happen. Nothing stands between our school and new levels

of greatness. All it will take is exuberance, energy and creativity. I do not have the answers,

but I have some of the questions. I am sure that for every impish question I pose, others

will come up with five more.

i4 RICHMOND LAW

Let's play 20 questions

What I set forth in these questions is not my "agenda." But it is an invitation to us all to devise an agenda. What steps must we take to become the greatest law school we can be? How can we improve what we are doing now? How can we create, innovate and collaborate to add new programs and initiatives, explore new approaches to legal education, new ways to integrate legal study with practical experience and connection to the community, new ways to bring the cutting issues of law and social policy through our building, contributing to society and the profession?

Are there ways to better combine

serving students with serving society?

Students are the life of the school, and the reason for its existence. In serving students, we serve society. What society most wants and needs from our nation's law schools are: students who will enter the profession imbued with a commitment to delivering legal services of the highest quality to clients; students

continued on page 18

ROD SMOLLA: TEACHER, SCHOLAR, AUTHOR, LITIGATOR, THE LAW SCHOOL'S

New Dean Raises the Bar By Karl Rhodes

Rod Smolla likes to mix it up - in the

classroom, in the courtroom, in virtually every venue

of his life.

In July, Smolla became dean of the

University of Richmond School of Law where he had

been George E. Allen Professor of Law for the past

five years. Professionally, he is a prolific writer,

teacher and litigator - an amazing amalgam of all

three. Personally, he is restless and tireless. He seems

capable of doing everything, incapable of doing

nothing.

In one of his 11 books, Smolla jolts awake from a

nightmare after being shot between the eyes in front

of his two little girls. Coming to his senses, he checks

on the sleeping children and heads for the kitchen.

"I could pull out a beer and hope to relax myself

enough to get back to sleep," he wrote. "Or I could

give up on the night, make coffee, and start the

day .... I made the coffee."

Smolla's nightmare was triggered by his reluctance

to represent the families of three murder victims.

(Two of the victims were shot through their eyes.)

They were killed by an assassin who followed

instructions from a book called Hit Man: A Technical

Manual for Independent Contractors. Attorneys for

the victims' families were suing the book's publisher,

Paladin Press, and they asked Smolla to join their

legal team. But the suit challenged his basic beliefs

about the First Amendment, and he refused.

Fa/1 2003 is

RAISING THE BAR

Later that day, Smolla could not stop thinking

about the case as he watched his girls at the

playground. "Not all in my life was what it seemed,"

he wrote in Deliberate Intent, his book about the

case. "The fa<;:ade looked real pretty, but beneath

the surface ... Something was missing. A line from

a Sheryl Crow song kept running through my mind:

'If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you

so sad?"'

Growing up in Chicago, Smolla played

sports and board games with his younger brothers

nonstop from dawn till dusk. And at 50, he still

makes time for some sibling rivalry.

"I have a daily online chess game with one of my

younger brothers as a way of keeping in touch," he

said. "My brothers and I still have that camaraderie."

Smolla went to Yale as a football recruit, but he

blew out his knee during his freshman year, and he

turned his attention to American studies.

"I had no inkling whatsoever that I might want to

be a lawyer when I was in college,'' he recalled. "My

fantasy was being drafted -

At the end of the football, basketball, base­

ball, it didn't matter. I was a

typical, fun-loving jock." day, we can take

pride in having

helped make the

school stronger,

knowing that in

doing so we have

contributed to the

profession and

to society.

i6 Rl CHMOND LAW

Even as a senior at Yale,

Smolla wasn't sure what he

wanted to do with his life.

Law school was an option,

but he had only a dim

concept of what it would

mean to be a lawyer.

"I showed up at Duke

Law School and was

completely taken by it," he

said. "I started to realize

how relevant the law was to

social issues and to policy

conflicts, how richly it was

steeped in history."

After practicing law in Chicago, Smolla began a

teaching career that took him to law schools at

DePaul, the University of Illinois, the University of

Arkansas, the College of William & Mary and

ultimately the University of Richmond.

In the past 10 years, Smolla has become more

active as a practicing attorney, and he believes that

experience has made him a more effective teacher,

scholar and writer.

As a teacher, Smolla looks for creative ways to

present material, including simulations and role­

playing exercises. "Sometimes these experiments

work and sometimes they don't work,'' he said. "But

any time you can empower students and get them to

use a fuller range of their skills, you make the

experience richer."

Smolla always respects student views, said Lauren

Brown Sigler, L'03. "That comes from what he does

when he puts his 'real-world' lawyer hat back on. He

must deal with very opposing views in his cases, and

I am sure he deals with his opponents in the same

respectful manner."

Sigler took two of Smolla's classes, constitutional

law and First Amendment law. "He constantly reminds

students that what you are learning in the classroom is

'live,"' she said. "The subjects we learn are affecting

people's daily lives."

Smolla rarely misses an opportunity to bring the

courtroom into the classroom, said John G. Douglass,

professor of law at Richmond. "Prior to his oral

argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in Virginia

v. Black, Rod did a number of things involving

students." he recalls. He met with the John Marshall

scholars for a lunchtime debate, and he invited

undergraduates to a forum on campus.

Law schools need to find ways to take what

students learn in the classroom and apply it to what

lawyers really do, said Daan Braveman, professor of

law at Syracuse University and co-author with Smolla

on Constitutional Law: Structure and Rights in Our

Federal System. Smolla excels in both arenas,

Braveman said. "The law school is fottunate, not only

to have him on the faculty, but now as its dean."

Smolla' s life seems filled with creative

tension - adversarial roles in his court cases, heated

discussions in his classrooms and terse prose in his

books. He also contends with the tension between

personal and professional obligations.

"There's a constant tension between paying

attention to your family and the spiritual sides of life

and meeting the demands of your job,'' he said. "Part

of the art of a good life is learning to balance them."

Smolla and his wife, Michele have five children in

their blended family. "I definitely have learned the art

of multitasking,'' he said. "I can be driving to a

basketball game for one of my kids while I'm

composing a book chapter in my head."

RAIS! G THE BAR

There is no doubt

in my mind that

our law school

already contributes

significantly to

national debate in

many ways, large

and small. But how

can we do more?

This is not reconunended in driving or parenting

manuals, but Braveman has confidence in Smolla's

ability to do two or three things well at the same

time. "He is one of the most efficient, well-organized

people I have ever met,'' Braveman said.

Often, it is this combination of roles that enables

Smolla to function so effectively. "My experiences in

practice have deeply affected my views of the law -

on the theoretical side and on the human side,'' he

said. "I've been able to see what happens when these

theories and doctrines are really put to the test. "

The Hit Man case put Smolla's convictions to

the test, and he had a change of hea1t -

professionally and personally. One of the victims was

a boy named Trevor, an 8-year-old quadriplegic.

"The thought of poor little Trevor and the accident

that had left him paralyzed left me maudlin," Smolla

wrote in Deliberate Intent. "A superstitious Catholic, I

made the sign of the cross and said a short prayer for

my [daughters'] safety. My prayers too often tended

to be like that - sporadic, transparent, self-serving.

Fall 2003 17

RAISING THE BAR

18 RICHMOND LAW

So I said another prayer of thanks on behalf of all

humanity. It made me feel magnanimous. I doubt

God was much impressed. "

Perhaps not, but Smolla was left with the

unmistakable impression that he needed to take the

case. "I finally knew where my conscience was trying

to take me," he wrote. "I knew in my heart that the

First Amendment simply could not plausibly be

interpreted to protect a book like Hit Man.

Smolla joined the legal team, and one business day

before the case went to trial, the insurance company

for Paladin Press agreed to pay a multimillion-dollar

settlement to the victims' families. Paladin also

agreed to stop selling the book.

Four years later, Smolla stood before the U.S.

Supreme Court to defend the First Amendment rights

of Barry Elton Black, a Ku Klux Klan member who

had violated a Virginia law against burning a cross in

public. Smolla argued that cross-burning alone does

not prove a person's intent to harm someone, and

therefore it is protected by the First Amendment.

"The two cases are in tension, to some degree,

in terms of my own feelings about freedom of

speech,'' Smolla said. "They defined the boundary

between what I thought was speech that was highly

offensive but still protected in the cross-burning

case and speech that crossed the line from merely

being offensive to being physically harmful in the

H it Man case ."

Smolla sleeps better these days, but he still has to

contend with friends and colleagues who disagree

with his position in either of those high-profile cases.

"And that's natural,'' he concluded. "That's what

happens when you get involved with those kinds of

tough controversies."

Karl Rhodes is a freelance writer based in Richmond.

continued/rampage 14

with a strong sense of the traditions and values of the profession; students with a strong sense of social responsibility, including a desire to treat service to the community, in what ever form it may take, as an essential element of the life of a lawyer. Are there new and better ways to accomplish these goals?

Are there creative new ways to

bring the issues of the day and

national players into the

law school?

This June, the U. S. Supreme Court in Grutter v. Bollinger stated that "universities and in particular, law schools, represent the training ground for a large number of our nation's leaders." I believe in the truth of that statement. It resonates, for me, with an observation made by Alexis de Tocqueville over a century ago in Democracy in America "that scarcely any political question arises in the United States that is not resolved, sooner or later, into a judicial question." That insight is more true now than ever. It is also a legacy that is specially connected to Virginia, the city of Richmond and the great Chief Justice John Marshall.

In a deep and profound sense, the quality of our life within the school community is dependent on how rigorously we address the issues of law and policy that affect the country. We do this to make our own lives more meaningful, and we do this to serve society. I believe that we ought to be judged to a significant degree by how effectively we demonstrate to the outside world our creative engagement with the issues of the day. This engagement is bipartisan: one of our graduates writing the opinion of the court and the other dissenting. Or, one representing the appellant and the other the appellee, in a case that shapes the future . There is no doubt in my mind that our law school already contributes significantly to national debate in many ways, large and small. But how can we do more? Let's put our thinking caps on.

Are there creative new ways to

package legal education,

integrating theory and practice?

Are there fresh new ways to place community experiences and service more centrally into the law school experience? Rather than simply follow the well-worn paths, maybe we can create an experience that is truly unique, that becomes an example for others, that will attract even stronger students and faculty because it is built around insights and innovations that mark it as distinctive and specially meaningful. Are there new ways in which to engage our students in the education of the "whole" lawyer? Are there new ways to explore and discuss issues such as balancing professional, personal and family life, maintaining one's mental and emotional equanimity in times of high stress, steeping students in traditions of professional civility, exploring how one makes the practice of law the pursuit of the "good life," in the sense of a life that is at once challenging, balanced, rewarding and meaningful?

Former Dean John R. Pagan and Smolla with Nina Totenburg of National Public Radio

DESIGNING A NEW FUTURE

Any such requirement would undoubtedly need to have an eclectic definition of what counts as pro-bono legal service and accommodate the various levels of competency that students have as they progress though their law school years. There are many intriguing possible benefits.

With wife, Michele, working on Habitat for Humanity project

Above all, this would be a statement of our values and our sense of what it means to be a lawyer. At the individual and institutional levels, it would send the message of dedication to our community, of connection to society. It would provide students with interesting practical experiences and opportunities for growth. And it would be an engine of creative endeavor. Does the idea merit exploration?

How can we make use of

emeritus faculty and retired

judges and lawyers?

We have a lot of untapped experience and wisdom around us. It starts with our emeritus faculty, colleagues who have given tremendously of themselves to the school. Our alumni include many senior judges and lawyers nearby who have much to offer the newest generation of incoming students. What kinds of things might we do institutionally to facilitate more interaction with these professors, judges and lawyers?

Are there ways to connect with

the city and region in a manner

that will attract national

attention and esteem?

Are there distinctive ways to take advantage of what the region around us offers, integrating the school with the community in ways that few other law schools have tried?

Should we become a center for

judges and judicial training?

Many of our graduates have gone on to distinguished careers at all levels of the state and federal judiciary. We are in the city that is home of the state's two appellate courts and the 4th Circuit. Judges already teach in our school, attend many of our events and are part of our extended family. Are there ways to create new programs that will enhance and solidify these connections in creative ways? Should we consider pennanent judicial training and continuing education programs or programs to train law clerks as part of our "staple diet" of activities?

Should we create academic

centers, speciality programs,

concentrations, certificate

degrees?

We currently have the Merhige Center in environmental law. It is something to be nurtured and expanded. Should we also look for ways to create new centers, speciality programs, concentrations or certificate degrees. Are there entrepreneurial or philanthropic opportunities to partner with other organizations, finding financial resources to start new programs that would contribute in some genuine way to society, enhance the educational opportunities of our students and bring fresh new spark and

Fa ll 2003 19

DESIGNING A NEW FUTURE

buzz to our program? Are there programs that we could start that would serve society, filling a need, and at the same time be attractive enough to other institutions, individuals or foundations to. make it possible to gamer the resources to create them?

How can we build

interdisciplinary connections and

partnerships with other branches

of the University?

A great liberal arts university is made all the greater by a great law school. And in these times, a Jaw school, if it aspires to greatness, must encourage ongoing collaboration - formal and informal -with other disciplines. We already have many interdisciplinary ties. But how might we create more?

How do we tend to the

infrastructure while being

innovative?

Creativity is a good thing. So is solidity and tending to the foundations. We desperately need more scholarship support for students. We need more faculty. We need to continue to improve the quality of our library. We need to remember the basics of solid legal education - the fundamental subjects, the building blocks of legal analysis and professionalism, and basic skills, such as good writing, effective communication, learning to listen and developing sound judgment. Please don't think for a moment that my spur to creativity is a slur to the fundamentals. I was raised on them and Jove to teach and promote them. My final question, then, is as basic as it gets: How do we combine the tried and true with the fresh and the new?

20 RICHMOND lAW

Making it happen

These questions, I hope, will spur more questions, trigger more creativity, generate more introspection and debate. The brainstorming should then give way to decision-making. After we organize, analyze and prioritize, we can come to consensus on a new blueprint for the future of the school, design the timetables and implementation strategies, and then dive energetically into the happy work of making it happen. Let's roll.

For all of us, I hope this will be a labor of love, an enterprise of joy. We are an extended family. Generations help generations. Seniors mentor and support juniors, who in tum energize us all. We need to raise money, raise expectations, and raise morale. With energy, hard work, and new resources, we can attract and retain faculty members of national stature,

recruit the country's best and brightest students, create new academic programs, generate partnerships with other academic units on the campus, forge alliances and joint ventures with other groups and entities and contribute to our surrounding community and our national life. At the end of the day, we can take pride in having helped make the school stronger, knowing that in doing so we have contributed to the profession and to society.

For my own part, I accept this challenge with humility and with the knowledge that inevitably we will have our ups and downs. But above all, I accept it with great optimism and a strong spirit of creative camaraderie. "Pragmatic idealism" might capture it.

I am delighted to have the honor of a leadership role in this collective enterprise. Let's be creative, professional, dedicated. And let's have fun.

FACULTY BRIEFS

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Margaret Ivey Bacigal , clinical presented papers at legal freedom and tenure, and Wolf, who came to Richmond professor, received a Story history conferences in makes recommendations to in 1987, taught a wide range Award from the Bonner Maastricht, The Netherlands, the association's annual of courses to law students Scholars Program and the and Dublin, Ireland. meetings. and undergraduates, includ-Office of the Chaplaincy for David Frisch contributed to the As editor of the journal of ing property, land-use her work to improve the lives 2004 supplement to Tbe Maritime Law and Commerce, planning, environmental law, of children and families in the Commercial Law of Intellec- John Paul Jones co-hosted a American legal history, local community. The awards are tual Property, published by symposium on "The Use of government, Faulkner in the given annually to honor Aspen Publishing Co. He also Evidence in Admiralty Cases" Jaw, Camelot in the courts, members of faculty, staff and wrote "An Overview of the at Newport, R.I. American immigration and student body who have made Amendments to U.C.C. Article Corinna B. Lai n took part in a ethnicity, and Jews in the outstanding contributions to 2" for the U.C.C. Bulletin, West Virginia CLE panel discussion American mind. He also the University and the Publishing Co. on "What's New in Civil served several years as Richmond community. Mary Heen has been appointed Procedure" in May. Her topic adviser to the University of Bacigal also was re-elected to a three-year tenn on a was a discussion of State Farm Richmond Law Review. A president of the board of committee on academic v. Campbell, a 2003 punitive native of Lakeland, Fla., Wolf directors of the Virginia freedom and tenure with the damages case. said, "My wife, Betty, and I Poverty Law Center. American Association of Michael Allan Wolf, former

take a lot with us as we make

Hamilton Bryson wrote "The University Professors. The professor of law and history, our move to Florida: memo-

Winchester Law School, 1824- committee, which is chaired by has been named the initial ries, enduring relationships,

1831" 21 Law and History Joan Wallach Scott, professor occupant of the Richard E. and the good wishes of our

Review (2003), and volume at the Institute for Advanced Nelson Chair in Local Govern-friends and colleagues."

60 of the Virginia Circuit Study, formulates association ment Law at the University of Contact Wolf at

Court Opinions. He also policy in areas of academic Florida's Levin College of Law. wolfm@law.ufl.edu.

Visiting professors Carl Tobi as , professor of law at James Gibson , an intellectual facu lty as visiting professor of Thomas Odom, assistant the William S. Boyd School of property specialist who taught law. Kelly served as associate professor of law at Oklahoma Law, University of Nevada at Las at the Law School in 2002-03, dean and director of the LL.M. City University School of Law, Vegas, is the visiting Williams returned this year as visiting program in taxation at Golden is teaching civil practice and Professor for 2003-2004. Tobias assistant professor of law. Gate University School of Law professional responsibility this earned his bachelor's degree at Gibson received his bachelor's in San Francisco. She earned a fa ll . He holds a B.A., magna Duke University and his law degree, cum laude, from Yale B.A. at Vassar and a law degree cum laude, from Rutgers degree at the University of University and his JD. from the from the University of Virginia niversity and a J.D. , cum Virginia. From 1975-98, he was a University of Virginia, where he School of Law. She also holds laude, from the University of professor at the University of was a member of the editorial an LL.M. in taxation from the Pennsylvania School of Law. Montana School of Law. He has board of the Virginia Law New York University School of Henry L. Chambers Jr., the James visited on the faculty of law Review and was elected to the Law. She has served as adviser S. Rollins Professor of Law at schools including Georgetown, Order of the Coif. Gibson to a U.S. Tax Court judge and the University of Missouri-North Carolina, Seton Hall and clerked for Judge Karen Nelson worked for New York City's Columbia School of Law, will Temple. He has written exten- Moore of the 6th U.S. Circuit human resources administra- teach criminal law and white-sively on federal civil procedure Court of Appeals. He served as tion . She will teach wills and collar crime during the spring and federal courts, publishing in attorney-adviser to a member of trusts, and federal income tax. semester. Chambers received journals including California the U.S. Sentencing Co1111nis- Bernhard Crossfield , a prominent his B.A. and ].D. from the Law Review, Cornell Law Review, sion and later worked for German expert on corporate University of Virginia. He was Stanford Law Review, Columbia Williams & Connolly in law, returned to the faculty this a litigator at Fried, Frank, Law Review and Harvard Washington. He will teach fall . Grossfield, who holds a J.D. Harris, Shriver & Jacobson in journal on Legislation. He will intellectual property and John from the University of Muenster Washington. teach torts, products liability and Marshall Scholars seminars. and an LL.M from Yale, will constitutional law. Marci Kelly, an experienced tax teach comparative law.

law specialist, returned to the Fa /1 2003 21

NOTA BENE

This fall , my classmates and I from the Class of 1983 will celebrate our 20th reunion. As I reflect on the occasion, I find myself pon­dering two questions: Can I be this old? And do I look this old? Those questions also are interesting and ap­propriate for alumni to con­sider about the law school itself, which has now passed its 130th birthday. The alumni, in large measure, must maintain the heritage and traditions of our school. And they must, through ac­tive participation in activities and through financial sup­port, seek to ensure that the school's "looks" are maintained. By that I refer to the physical plant and to the way the law school is perceived among prospec­tive students, prospective employers, the bar and the judiciary.

Competition for the best and brightest students is as high as ever, with law schools all over the country raising money at record levels. We have a great school, and our re­cent successes with the Virginia Bar pass rate, improvements in our U.S. News rank­ing and the dramatic increase in applica­tions for admission (an all-time high this year) illustrate that we are a law school on the move in the right direction. We have a strong administration and faculty, but they need our support for their efforts to realize the best outcomes.

We can provide support in many ways. For those in a position to hire our law graduates, make that a priority in your hir­ing decisions. For those who can donate

22 RICH~IOND LAW

time to teach as adjunct faculty, consider doing so to share your knowledge. And, for those who have the financial resources to

help our law school im­prove and move into the nation's top tier - and this means all of us at some level - please make giving a priority.

The leadership at the top of any organization is one measure of its strength and vitality. We have been fortu­nate to have many fine deans over the years and are now at a crossroads as we make the transition from the leadership of John

Pagan to that of Rod Smolla. To Dean Pa­gan, I extend, on behalf of the law school alumni, our sincere thanks for his tireless efforts and for the many accomplishments achieved on his watch. To Dean Smolla, our new dean, I extend best wishes and our pledge of support as he charts the next steps for the law school.

This fall , whether you are a recent gradu­ate or have long since passed your 20th reunion, let me encourage you to place the

Law School at the top of your list of priori­ties. Come to Fall Gathering, take a look around, meet our new dean and talk with the students. Our school is a great place that desires and needs the support of every one of its alumni. It needs you. I hope to see you this fall.

By john C Ivins fr. , President, Law School Association

Krueger named high court clerk

Patricia H. Krueger, L'83, has been named clerk of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Krueger had served as chief deputy clerk of the court for 13 years. She suc­ceeded David B. Beach, L'76, who had been clerk since 1984. The transition from Beach to Krueger took place July 1.

Before coming to the court, Krueger, who earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University,

worked in private practice and in the Office of the Pub­lic Defender in Richmond.

At the Law School, she was a finalist in the 1981 Carrico Moot Court Competi­tion and co-chair of the Moot Court Board.

The clerk's office receives, processes and maintains records of appeals to the state's highest court. It also maintains a list of qualified attorneys.

In response to her appointment, Krneger said, "This appointment is a great privilege and I look foiward to serving the Supreme Court and the Conunonwealth."

Meeting the challenge Benjamin wins pro bono award

Steven D. Benjamin's career has included high-profile white-collar cases, capital murder defenses and well-publicized dealings with

heavyweight politicians. But it was a pro bono case involving a trespassing charge that

landed him in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

"That," said

Benjamin, 1'79, "was the most intense profes­sional experience I've had. "

For his longstanding

commitment to representing poor Virginians, Benjamin was presented the Lewis F. Powell Jr. Pro Bono Award by the Virginia State Bar last May at a conference on campus. The award is named for the late Justice Powell, who championed legal services for the poor throughout his career.

Benjamin, who practices in Richmond, has worked for years to increase the pay of court-appointed lawyers so that indigent defendants are more likely to receive adequate representation. He won a case in Virginia that resulted in a requirement that the state pay for foren­

sic expert assistance in some indigent criminal cases.

He has worked voluntarily with the Virginia legislature on matters ranging from the execution of the mentally retarded to DNA defense issues to reor­ganization of the criminal code. He also is a founder of the Virginia Indigent Defense Coalition.

A native of Swansboro, N.C. , and a graduate of East Carolina University, Benjamin's practice is almost exclu­sively criminal defense.

"I love the challenge that comes with the work as well as the fact that I'm do­ing something worthwhile for people who need help," he said.

He and his law partner, Betty Layne DesPortes, provide pro bono help be­cause "that's the way my parents raised

me and that's what I learned at law '

school. "People come to us with problems

that we just can't walk away from. To not represent someone who faces some unconscionable charge because they don't have the money would be like a doctor walking away from a catastrophic accident. It's our obligation as lawyers to help. "

Away from work Benjamin also seeks challenges. He participates in ultra marathons, such as the 140-mile Marathon de Sables in the Sahara desert, which he has run three times, once finishing as the fastest American. He has raced from Athens to Sparta (156 miles) in 35 hours, 19 minutes.

Why? "It's the challenge," he said. "Intensity, focus of effort, determina­tion. That's my recreation."

The same characteristics were valu­able when Benjamin stood before the

NOTA B E N E

highest court on behalf of Kevin Hicks. Hicks had been charged with trespass­ing as he delivered diapers to his child in Richmond's Whitcomb Court housing project.

Benjamin challenged the city hous­ing authority's right to use trespassing laws to keep people it viewed as undesirable out of the projects. The Supreme Court in June refused to in­validate the policy and sent the case back to Virginia courts to consider

related issues. Benjamin, who is often on campus

as an adjunct faculty member teaching scientific evidence, said understanding the fundamentals of constitutional law was the most important part of his law school education.

"We learned what a powerful tool the Constitution can be to restrain abuses of power and to give voice to the defenseless," he said. "As a lawyer, I can do what others often cannot. "

- By Rob Walker

Fall 2003 23

CLASS ACTIONS

c Vasil Fisanick, L'50, of Northern Cambria , Pa., and his wife , Rita, are ce lebrating their 44th wedding ann iversary this fall. Richmond Law regrets that it incor­rect ly stated in the last issue that Mrs. Fisanick had passed away.

Boyce C. Wornom , B'51 and L'54, has been recognized as a life

member of the Virginia Bar Association.

James T. Edmunds, L'55, and his wife , Harriett, are retired and live in a sma ll community on Colington Island in the Outer Banks of orth Carolina, where he serves as president of the Bay Cliff Association.

Leona rd A. Paris, L'62, has formed the Rich­mond firm of ParisBlank LLP , with Irving M. Blank, L'67.

Hon . Buford M. Parsons Jr., B'58 and L'62, has been recognized as a life member of the Vir­ginia Bar Associat ion.

James E. Spinks, L'62, has been recogn ized as a life member of the Virginia Bar Association.

24 RICHMOND LAW

I4etions Hon . George F. Tidey, B'55 and L'63 , has been recognized as a life member of the Virg inia Bar Association.

The Hon. Von L. Piersall Jr., R'61 and L'64, retired from the Circuit Court in Portsmouth on Dec. 31 , 2002, after eight years. He prev iously served 24 years as judge in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and was a common­weal th 's attorney for seven years.

James Hutton , L'65 , has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America. He is with Sadler, Ingram , Sutherland and Hutton in Blacksburg, Va.

Irv ing M. Blan k, L'67, has formed the Richmond firm of ParisBlank LLP, with Leonard A. Paris , L'62.

Michael Rigsby, L'69, is an attorney with the firm of Carrell , Rice & Rigsby, which focuses its practice on federal and state civil lit igation, admin istrative law and corporate issues. He continues to represent attorneys , law firms and other licensed profes­sionals.

Mike Ferguson, B'67 and L'70, and his wife Anne Margaret Larson Ferguson , W'69, have homes in Smith Moun­tain Lake and Roanoke , Va . Their son Stephen is pursuing an acting career in California.

Conard B. Mattox Ill, R'71 and L'76, has joined Mccandlish Ho lto n as a d irector and member of the health care group.

Greer P. Jackson , L'73, has been elected secretary of the board of directors of Commonwealth Catho lic Chari ties.

Harold Kestenbaum, L'74, has joined Farre ll Fritz in Long Island , N.Y.

Ben R. Lacy IV, L'74, has been selected as one of Virginia Business' "Legal Elite. " The list features the top 400 attorneys who practice in nearly every major specia lty of law throughout Virginia .

David B. Beach, L'76, retired Ju ly 1 as clerk of the Supreme Court. of Virgin ia.

Glenn W. Pulley, R'73 and L'76, has become a fe llow of the American College of Tria l Law­yers . He is a senior partner in the law firm of Cleme nt & Wheatley.

His son, Drew, gradu­ated from Richmond in May and his son Jeffrey, '01, is a law MudentatFordham.

Wilson R. Trice, L'76, has joined Thompson & McMullan as a director. He has a gene ral bus i­ness law p ractice .

Katrin Belenky Colamarino, L'76, continues to practice technology and e-commerce law at JP Morgan Chase Bank in

ew York City, where she manages a team of 16 lawyers a nd paralegals . She and her husband, Len , enjoy weekends in Woodstock , N.Y., which she says is still a hip, artistic town. They have three gra nd­children from Katrin's daughter , Rachel , who is a psychological counselor living in Israel.

Gregory B. Robertson , L'76, has been elected to the board of direc­tors of the Virgin ia Chamber of Commerce.

Steven M. Edmonds, L'77, has been elected chair­man of the board of directors of Gateway Homes of Greater Rich­mond. He also has been named vice president and genera l counse l with Ethyl Corp.

Paul D. Fraim, L'77, an attorney in Ha mpton Roads, Va., was inducted as a fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation.

Conard B. Mattox Ill , R'71 and L'77, has joined Mccandlish Holton PC as a director and member in the firm 's health care team. His practice focuses on represe nting health care providers in trans­actiona l matters , joint ventu res and strategic planning.

John C. Shea, L'77, has been appointed to the faculty of the Virginia College of Trial Advo­cacy. He is an attorney with Marks & Harrison.

Michael A. Glasser, L'78, an attorney in Hampton Roads , Va ., was inducted as a fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation.

John Mille r, L'78, owns his own firm in Spring­field , Mass.

Sara Redding Wilson, L'78, has been appointed to the Commonwealth Competition Council by Gov. Mark Warner. She is director of the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management.

Craig Rascoe, B'76 and L'79, was elected a vice president of Williams Mu llen. He is chairman of the firm 's tax section.

John Cole Gayle Jr., L'79, has opened a new firm, The Consumer Law Group . The Richmond fi rm focuses on protect­ing the rights of consumers and victims of fraud in Virginia.

Marion S. Cooper, L'81 , has joined WallacePledger as an associate.

Patrick C. Devine Jr., L'81 , was appointed chair­man of the Virginia Bar Association's health law section. Devine, an attorney with Hofheimer Nusbaum, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the health law, corporate mergers and acquisitions, and securities law categories.

Carol Wingo Dickinson, L'83, is board member and president of Jack­son Feild Home for Girls .

Steven L. Higgs, L'83, of the Roanoke , Va., firm of King & Higgs PC, has been recertified in consumer bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. He has been certified in consumer bankruptcy law since 1998.

Will iam Henry "Hank" Sipe Ill , L'83, has been included in The Best Lawyers in America. He is an attorney with the Rock Hill , S.C. , office of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman.

Lucia Anna Trigiani , L'83, has been appointed to the Virginia Board of Health Professions by Gov. Mark Warner.

T. Dan iel Christenbury, L'84 and GB '85, has joined the Philadelphia office of Piper Rudnic LLP, as a partner and head of the intellectual property group in that office.

William J. Rogers, L'84, has been named man­aging attorney for the business services group at the Framme Law Firm.

Carolyn Lavecchia, L'85, has received the Metropolitan Richmond Women 's Bar Associa ­tion Women of Achievement award.

Peter M. Mellette, L'85, is with Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle PC, in Glen Allen, Va.

Aubrey Russell Bowles IV, L'86, and his wife , Louise , have triplets: Aubrey Russell Bowles V, Drury Wood Knight Bowles and Mary Madison Bowles. They join sister Carrington Southall Bowles, 2.

Mark Kevin Ames, L'87, has been named managing attorney for the consumer services group of the Framme Law Firm. He concen­trates his practice in administrative and judicial appeals of state and local tax issues , commercial litigation and personal injury.

Malcolm P. "Mic" McConnell Ill , R'84 and L'87, was lead counsel in obtaining what is reportedly the largest medical malpractice verdict in Virginia history, $6.5 million. He is chief of the medical malpractice section of the Richmond-based firm of Allen , Allen, Allen & Allen. He also is the editor and co-author of Medical Malpractice Law in Virginia.

-

ALUMNI PROFILE

CLASS A C TIONS

Donald T. Floyd, L'92, wins awards for what he calls his "retirement hobby" - provid­ing free legal assistance to people in need.

The Virginia State Bar awarded Floyd the 2002 Lewis F. Powell Jr. Pro Bono Award, honoring him for thousands of hours of professional service without compensation. He also received the 1997 Pro Bono Publico A ward of the Bar Association of the City of Richmond.

Floyd said he was surprised at the recog­nition. "The work at legal aid with staff and clients was personally satisfying to me."

PRO BONO Floyd's legal career began at an age when most people are considering retirement.

WORK BRINGS He entered the University of Richmond HONOR, FULFILLS School of Law in 1989, graduated in 1992

and passed the bar exam at age 60. DREAM He and wife, Judy, were looking for a

new life after his service in the Air Force and a 31-year insurance career, mostly in central New York .

"I didn 't want to retire and just go play golf," he said. He decided to pursue a third career - a lifelong interest in law.

Floyd chose the law school because of its comfortable size and the lifestyle of the area.

"It turned out to be a good fit ," he said. "I wish I had gone to law school right out of college. It 's a good education regardless of the field you pursue ."

After graduation, he found the job market weak and the long hours unappealing.

"I decided I didn't want to get into that meat grinder, starting out at the bottom and working your way up ," he said. "I didn 't want to be tied down."

Henry McLaughlin, executive director of the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, took Floyd under his wing. CVLAS gave him a chance to develop his own cases without a strict schedule.

"It was the best of both worlds, " Floyd said. He soon decided to forego private practice altogether. Instead,

he devoted about 20 hours weekly to CVLAS, working on every­thing from foreclosures to estate squabbles and insurance disputes.

Although CVLAS has experts in fields such as housing and employment, "a lot of the problems that came to legal aid fell in between these areas," said Floyd, who took on "miscellaneous cases" that needed attention.

After eight years with CVLAS, Floyd and his wife reluctantly decided it was time to move to Bethlehem, Pa., to be closer to family.

Floyd never thought about the money he could have made in private practice.

"I was happier doing what I was doing,'' he said. At 71, Floyd still seeks opportunities . He and his wife travel

extensively, and he makes numerous trips to the Far East with his son, who lives in Taiwan. He also is seeking more pro bono work.

"Almost all of my contemporaries are retired, but I don't particularly like retirement, " Floyd said. "The pro bono work adds structure and a sense of accomplishment to my life. "

- By Betsy Powell Mullen

Fall 2003 25

CLASS ACTIONS

In Memoriam

Helen K. Bailey, L'81 . May24, 2003

Sidney Barney, R'40, L'59 May 10, 2003

Duncan M. Byrd Jr., L'68 July 16, 2003

Chris A. Christie, L'68 May 16, 2003

Carle E. Davis, L'53 April 9, 2003

John L. Dillow, L'25 March 10, 2001

John W. Edmonds Ill, R'53, L'56 May21, 2003

Edward Brodnax Haskins Jr., L'59 May 31, 2003

James L. Mclemore, L'40 June 9, 2003

Bernard E. Oslin, L'29 November 23, 1998

William V. Rennie, L'35 October 15, 1998

A. Grey Staples Jr., L'66 March 30, 2003

William David Temple, L'40 April 9, 2003

Herbert T. Williams 111, L'55 December 29, 1998

James Wilson Jr., L'87, has formed Abacus Mortgage Corp., a mort­gage loan brokerage in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Stanley P. Wellman, L'87, has been elected to the board of the Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now).

Sallie Hunt, L'89 , has been named West Virginia 's chief privacy officer, focusing prima­rily on HIPAA compliance issues.

26 RJ CHMO D LAW

Daniel M. Koliadko Jr., L'89, has joined the Chattanooga, Tenn.,

· firm of Leitner, Williams, Dooley and Napolitan PLLC. He focuses his practice on broad-based health care, professional and general liability litigation, employment and general corporate practice.

Blair Jacobs, L'90, is a senior attorney with Pillsbury Winthrop in the firm's McLean, Va., office.

K. Ruppert Beirne, L'91 , and his wife, Danise, welcomed a daughter, Samantha Jane , on March 20, 2003. She joined brothers Adam, 12, Daniel, 10, and Jonathan, 7.

Brett Geisler, L'91, has been appointed Vir­ginia Circuit Court judge for Radford and Carroll counties.

Heather E. Fairbanks, L'91, has transferred from the Office of Staff Counsel, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division . She is a member of the Septem­ber 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

George L. Hiller, L'91, will direct the new international business program within the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.

Victor Narro, L'91 , presented a workshop, "Community and Legal Responses to Post 9/ 11 INS Worksite Enforcement, " at the Low-Income Immigrant Rights Conference in Washington, D.C. His "Running for Dignity" immigrant workers marathon team recently completed its 20th marathon in Palos Verde , Calif. Narro ran his personal best, 4 hours and 22 minutes,

and his team raised money to support a cooperative project for immigrant gardeners in Los Angeles.

Andrew T. Shilling, L'91, opened his own firm, Givando & Shilling in Chesapeake, Va . He has a daughter, Whitney Lynn, who is 18 months old, and a son, Spencer Franklin, 3.

Jerry M. Wright Jr., L'91, is an associate with Chadwick, Washington, Otters, Moriarity & Lynn PC, in Glen Allen, Va. He previously served six years as senior staff attorney with the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Lisa Frisina Clement, L'92, has been elected a share­holder of PennStuart in Richmond.

Kathleen C. Dolan, L'92, and her husband, Jim Weidman, have two children, Trent and Meg. She writes a weekly newspaper col­umn on religion. Her first novel, Langley's Choice, is scheduled for publication this fall.

Alison Wright Feehan, L'92, and Tim Feehan, L'92, had a son, Hugh Timothy, Nov. 28, 2002.

William T. Fitzhugh, L'92, has joined Bowen, Champlin, Carr & Rockecharlie. He will concentrate in domes­tic relations and adoption law.

Hon. Garland L. Bigley, L'92 , is serving as a judge in the 11th Judi­cial District of Virginia, sitting in Nottoway and Powhatan counties. Judge Bigley and her husband, Dr. H. Alan Bigley Jr., are the proud grandparents of Parker Abbott Bigley, the first girl born into the Bigley family in 65 years.

Penny A. Land, L'92, has been named partner in the law firm of Kluever & Platt LLC, in Chicago . She specializes in mort­gage foreclosure , bankruptcy and real estate.

Jeffrey K. Mitchell, L'92, has been elected to the board of directors of the Virginia Public Safety Foundation .

Brian R. Pitney, L'92, has been appointed to the fund development com­mittee of the Children's Museum of Richmond. He is an attorney with Sands Anderson Marks & Miller's business , fi­nance and real estate practice group.

Henry R. Pollard V, L'92 and GB'93 , has been named a partner in the Richmond firm of Christian & Barton LLP. He joined the firm in 1995 and concentrates in environmental law.

Stephen Robert Wills, L'92, and Christie Meredith were married Feb. 1, 2003.

Ellen Brown, L'93, and her husband, Orran, had a son, Andrew Ryland, Jan . 17, 2003.

Richard Barton Campbell, L'93, has been elected to the board of trustees of Trinity Episcopal School.

Stephanie E. Grana, W'90 and L'93, has been elected president of the Metropolitan Richmond Women's Bar Association.

Brad Jacob, B'89 and L'93, and his w ife, Juli e , had a son, Henry Bradfo rd , Ja n. 24, 2003.

Anne D. McDougall , L'93, was appointed by Virginia Gov. Mark Warner to the Board of Regents of the James Mo nroe Law Office Mu­seum and Memorial Library. She is an attor­ney w ith Freed and Shepherd .

Edward F. Rockwell, L'93, is servi ng as lead lega l counse l to Hewlett­Packard's Services business in Europe , the Middle East and Afri ca. He is based in Milan, Italy.

John T. Pendleton, L'93, who is with the firm Gottesman and Hollis , recently received the 2002 Robert E. Kirby Award at the ew Hamp­shire Bar Foundation's 25th anniversa ry celebra­tion dinner.

Margaret Smither, L'93 , is past chairwoman of Commonwealth Ca tholic Charit ies.

Jeremy Sohn, L'93, has joined Snell & Wilmer's Tucson, Ariz., law of­fice as an associa te . His practice concentrates on esta te p lanning and taxation issues.

Kristin S. Gibbons, L'94, and her husband , Christopher, welcomed a da ughter, Jenna Ka therine , on Feb. 25 , 2003. She jo ined s ister Alexa Elise , 5.

Lisa Spickler Goodwin, L'94, w ith Hirschler Fleischer, is immediate past preside nt of the board of directors of Barksdale Theatre.

John C. Lynch, L'94, has been elected to part­ne rship at Troutman Sa nders LLP. He is a member of the complex litigation practice gro up .

Samuel L. Tarry Jr., L'94, has been named a part­ner at McG ui reWoods. He is a member of the products li ability and lit igation management department.

Elizabeth Trahos, L'94, has been named a part­ne r w ith Holt York McDarris and High . She foc uses on land-use , municipal and adminis­trative law.

Travis R. Williams, R'91 and L'94, has been appointed to a six-yea r term as a substitute judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit and the General District and Ju venile and Domestic Relations Court for Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights , Va.

David F. Bernhardt, L'95, has joined Florance, Go rdon and Brow n PC as an associate . He w ill practice in the firm 's reside nti al and com­mercia l rea l estate de partment .

Tim Dorsey, L'95, was named partner at Willi ams Mullen . He practices in the fi rm's Virginia Beach offi ce.

ALUMNI PROFILE

CHANGING CAREERS

TOMAKEA

CLASS A C T IONS

In 1997, Robin Starr made a dramatic career move, trading the courthouse for the doghouse. She left her position as partner in a prominent Richmond law firm to become CEO and executive director of the Richmond SPCA.

Starr, 1'79, had every intention of spending her career practicing law. She worked as in-house counsel of the A.H. Robins Company before joining Williams Mullen Clark and Dobbins where she became a partner in the business section. But a part of her itched to make a serious contribution to her community and to leave an important legacy.

When she heard the SPCA's executive director would resign soon, Starr leaped at the opportunity.

CONTRIBUTION Starr cites her educational experience at the law school as an extremely valuable

part of her life , and she applies lessons learned there to her work today.

Using her legal education regularly on behalf of the SPCA, Starr is in charge of everything from care of the animals to balancing the books. She runs the SPCA's annual fund campaign, manages its $3 million budget, and recently directed a drive to raise funds for the humane society's new $14 million, 64,000-square-foot building. The facility has drawn national attention to the Richmond SPCA. It features a spay-neuter clinic, and a track and training center. The center also offers educational programs aimed at addressing the area's homeless pet problem.

For all her efforts , Starr finds her new career rewarding. Since joining the Richmond SPCA, a no-kill humane society,

it has reduced the deaths of homeless animals in Richmond by 41 percent, Starr said.

"That's what's rewarding - saving animals who are wonderful pets for somebody's home and life. "

The rewards outweigh the substantial pay cut that Starr took when she left her law practice, though she felt some guilt initially.

"It 's amazing once you start doing something that you feel is a huge contribution to your community, it doesn't matter anymore that you make Jess money. You take such pride in what you do that the paycheck doesn't matter as much."

Through the changes, Starr 's family has supported her decision. Her husband, Edward H. Starr Jr. , also graduated from the law school in the class of 1979. They have a daughter, Tyler. The two met in the registrar's office the first day of law school.

"Ed has been extremely supportive and has always thought that I would love it and that I should do it. Tyler is nine, and of course she loves it because I have absolutely the coolest job of any parent in her class ."

As for the future , Starr said that although she initially saw herself returning to law, she has no plans to leave the SPCA. "I love what I do. It is very rewarding and inspiring. I think I'm here for life."

- By Sara B. Walker

Fa/12003 27

•

CLASS A CT IONS

David DuVal, L'95, has been named partner at Williams Mullen.

John M. Holloway Ill, L'95, has been named a partner at Hunton & Williams.

Christopher A. Jones, L'95, has been named a partner of Leclair Ryan.

Charles A. Rohde, L'95, and his wife , Susan, have a son, Denton True.

Elizabeth S. Byrd-Roberts, L'95, and her husband , John Eric Roberts, had a son , Joshua Hale, on Jan. 10, 2003.

L. Scott Seymour, L'95, is a partner at Kauffman & Canoles in Newport News , Va .

Sharon England, L'g6, has received the Metro­politan Richmond Women 's Bar Association's Women of Ach ievement award.

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Mail Class Actions Editor Richmond Law University of Richmond

School of Law University of Richmond, Virginia 23173

Susan Parrish, L'g6, has joined Duane, Hauck & Gnapp as an associate .

Stephanie Lindsey Hiss, L'97, and her husband, Alan , welcomed a son, Daniel James , on Jan. 4, 2003.

Kristine Dalaker Kraabel, W'92 and L'97, and her husband, Tom , have moved to Shanghai , China , where she works for the law firm of White & Case.

Elizabeth Musick, L'97, has joined McGuireWoods Consulting as an assistant director in government relations.

Matthew Farley, L'g8, has been elected to the board of directors of the metro Richmond division of the Ameri-can Heart Association.

Jason P. Livingston, L'g8, has been promoted to ass istant director for contract administration for Uni ted Network for Organ Sharing. He continues in the ro le of staff attorney in the co rporate counsel department.

Melissa M. Riahei, L'g8, has jo ined Wildman Harrold as an associate in the firm's Chicago office . She will work in the areas of complex corporate litigation, commercia l and gov-ernmenta l matters.

Alan Porter Vaughan, L'g8, is an associate vice president with Davenport & Co.

Relenee Cook, L'gg, is an associate at the Rhea & Miller law firm in Staunton, Va.

Jeffrey Lee Harvey, L'gg, is an associate at Troutman Sanders LLP, in Washington.

William Lanphear, L'oo, is assistant public defender fo r Broward County in Fort Lauder-dale, Fla.

Thomas I. Queen, L'oo, has relocated to Austin, Texas, and is practicing corporate law with Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody PC.

Faisal S. Qureshi, L'oo, has been appointed to the associate board of the Richmond SPCA.

William S. Tate, GB'oo and L'oo, who is with Hirschler Fleischer, has been elected second vice president of the board of trustees of the Friends Assoc iation for Chi ldren.

Sean Tluchak, L'oo, is a partner in the firm of Rothenberg, Streeter & Tluchak PC. He special-izes in civil litigation.

Deborah Faye Barfield, Eric Gregory, A'g6 and L'o1, has been L'o2, has joined Morris appointed assistant and Morris as an associ-director of Virginia ate. He will concentrate Commonwealth on civil litigation. University 's Nonprofi t Enterprise Institute, an Robert F. Holland, administrative faculty L'o2, has joined position in the depart- McGuireWoods as ment of political an associate in labor science and public and employment. admin istration.

Christopher K. Peace, Leigh Archer Brabrand, L'o2, is assistant vice L'o1, and her husband , president in grassroots Jonathan Brabrand, issue management with B'97, had a daughter, McG uireWoods Consult-Lauren Grace, Jan. 6, ing LLC. His primary 2003. areas of concentration

are multi -state govern-Jennifer C. Hunt, L'o1 , ment relations and loca l and David W. Kazzie, and state lobbying. L'gg, were married on

ov. 9, 2002 , at Can- Eric C. Reed, L'o2, has non Memorial Chape l. joined Kaufman &

They live in Richmond. Canole's commercial section in Norfolk , Va.

Philip Landau, L'o1, has joined the Fort Lauder- Shane Jimison, L'o3, dale , Fla. , office of married Kristin Marie Ake rman Sentefitt as an Weber , A'Ol, on associate in litigation. Dec. 28, 2002 . Included

in the wedding party Christine Nguyen were Julie Rumble, Piersall, L'o1 , has joined A'02 , and David Hudson, the Portsmouth , Va. , L'o3. The couple lives office of Hofheimer in Richmond. Nusbaum , where she practices in the firm 's estate planning , hea lth care law and commer-cial transactions sections.

Andrew Biondi, L'o2, has joined Sands Anderson Marks & Mil ler as an associate in the busi-ness and professional litigation practice group .

J. Scott Efird, L'o2, has joined the Richmond firm of Florance, Gordon and Brown PC, as an associate.

When a federal grand jury indicted Martha Stewart this June on

charges of securities fraud and obstruction of justice, the man in

the media glare with the official version of the news was very

familiar to many law alumni.

James B. Corney, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of

New York, taught as an adjunct faculty member at the

University of Richmond School of Law for several years in the

1990s.

Corney, who was appointed U.S. attorney for the Manhattan

district in 2002, is no stranger to the bright lights of high-profile

cases. He served as lead prosecutor in United States v.]ohn Gambino et al., a six-month mafia racketeering and murder trial.

In the Eastern District of Virginia, he handled the Khobar Towers

terrorist bombing case, arising out of the June 1996 attack on a

U.S. military facility in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 airmen.

Corney graduated from the College of William & Mary with a

double major in religion and chemistry. He went on to graduate

with honors from the University of Chicago Law School.

He worked in the U.S. attorney's office in New York early in

his career where he was mentored by prosecutors such as Louis

Freeh, who would become FBI director, and Rudy Giuliani,

who would become mayor of New York City.

Corney and his young family returned to Richmond in the

early 1990s with an assist from Richard Cullen, L'77, who was

with the U.S. attorney's office here.

Because of a hiring freeze in that office, Cullen

recommended Corney to the McGuireWoods law firm. Corney

soon made partner. When Cullen rejoined the firm in 1993, the

two worked on the same team.

"It was apparent to us all that Jim had immense talent in and

out of the courtroom," said Cullen, who would go on to serve

as Virginia attorney general before returning to McGuireWoods.

Cullen is godfather of one of Corney's children.

Corney joined the U.S. attorney's office in Richmond in 1996,

filling the position that opened up there when John G.

Douglass left to join the law school faculty. The two remain

friends.

Corney helped create Project Exile, a widely praised and

imitated approach to reducing crime during a particularly

violent period in many U.S. cities in the mid to late 1990s.

Project Exile required that all firearms violations meeting

minimum criteria for federal involvement be prosecuted by the

U.S. Attorney's office. With federal attention, crime rates in the

city plunged.

Corney taught trial advocacy and appellate advocacy in the

lawyering skills program at the law school, which Douglass directs.

"Jim brought his astonishing breadth of experience to our

lawyering skills program," Douglass said. "He was a talented

professor, whose example challenged his students to seek the

highest level of professionalism. We miss him a great deal and

expect him to return once he gets things straightened out in

New York."

Recently, Corney said he stays in touch with Douglass and

several other law school colleagues as well as former students.

"I have many happy memories of the law school," he said.

"It was a great experience to get to watch the students as they

blossomed into trial lawyers during the second year trial skills

program. I think they all dreaded it at the start but came to see

it as incredibly valuable. John Douglass deserves the credit for

that. He designed and ran a terrific program."

"We knew he would be successful when he returned to New

York," Cullen said. 'The only surprise may be that it happened so

quickly."

- By Rob Walker

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University of Richmond Virginia 2317 3

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